LOS ANGELES — Matt Kemp and Russell Martin jump-started the Dodgers offense in the middle innings of Monday night's game, and there was nothing the Atlanta Braves could do to stop it.

Martin tied the score in the fifth inning with his third hit, and Kemp put the Dodgers ahead for good with a two-run home run an inning later as they pulled away to an 8-2 victory at Dodger Stadium.

Martin, the first-time All-Star catcher, had a a four-hit game for the first time in his career. Right fielder Kemp finished with three RBIs.

Braves starter John Smoltz blanked the Dodgers for the first four innings and took a 1-0 lead into the fifth, but that's when the Dodgers started to figure him out.

Doubles by Rafael Furcal and Martin were good for the tying run, and a big mistake on a 3-1 pitch to Kemp an inning later resulted in a 346-foot home run.

"John Smoltz is John Smoltz," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "He's always tough on the opposition and we were no different. We were able to get a little bit going later in the game and that paid off."

Kemp's home run turned out to be the wake-up call and it came after another mistake by Smoltz. Smoltz struck out James Loney to apparently end the sixth, but the pitch was in the dirt and got away from catcher Brian McCann. That allowed Loney to reach base and bring Kemp to the plate.

Kemp's home run, his third of the season, brought the Dodger Stadium crowd — and the Dodgers offense — to life.

"I told Loney to get on base because I was going to drive him in," Kemp said. "He (Smoltz) challenged me. He throws 93, 94 (mph). I guess I won the challenge.

"That's probably one of the biggest hits in my career. Hopefully, I'll have a lot more."

Dodgers starter Derek Lowe did not have one of his better performances, but he had enough to keep the Dodgers within reach. A 13-pitch at-bat by McCann in the second inning sent Lowe's pitch count soaring. Lowe retired the side in order in the second inning, but needed 26 pitches to do it.

The Braves took a 1-0 lead when Edgar Renteria singled Scott Thorman home from third with two outs in the third inning.

Lowe reached 100 pitches by the time he exited the game in the sixth inning, forcing left-handed reliever Joe Beimel to pitch out of tough spot.

The Braves had the bases loaded with one out, but Beimel struck out Kelly Johnson, and Jeff Kent made a diving stop of a ground ball by pinch hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Kent fielded the ball in shallow right field and threw to first to end the inning.

"Derek Lowe got into trouble but Joe Beimel did his job," Martin said. "It's nice when someone can come in with runners and first and second and get out of it."

The Dodgers padded their lead with five runs in the seventh inning.

Martin's second RBI of the game plated Juan Pierre for a 4-1 lead. Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Kemp and Olmedo Saenz drove in runs in the seventh.